Ruthie's Table 4
iHeartPodcasts
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home.
On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers.
Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks.
Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation.
For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/
Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
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On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers.
Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks.
Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation.
For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/
Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/
Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2026 • 8min
Bonus: What To Eat When with Sir Sadiq Khan
In this bonus episode of Ruthie’s Table 4, Mayor Sadiq Khan discusses how mayors from all over the world connect, learn from one another, and fight for their cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 24, 2026 • 39min
Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor Of London
Sir Sadiq Khan, the third and longest governing Mayor in London’s history, sees the dinner table as a place of importance. Today, he is here with me at The River Café, to share memories and stories about his grandparents, his mother’s cooking during Ramadan, the importance of breaking bread, and how the diversity of London’s restaurants reflect the diversity of our city. Order Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 20, 2026 • 4min
Bonus: The Cook And The Book
In this bonus excerpt from her conversation with Ashley Baker, Ruthie reflects on the importance of grandparents, and of tradition during the writing of Table 4 at The River Cafe - sharing stories about Great Gerwig, Noah Baumbach and Tom Hollander.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 17, 2026 • 26min
Special Episode: The Cook and the Book
In this special episode, Ruthie is joined by her friend and journalist Ashley Baker to take us inside the creation of the new book Table 4 at the River Cafe: Conversations About Food and Life. Join us to revisit some of her most memorable, dazzling conversations and learn what inspired David Beckham, Tina Fey, Paul McCartney, and many more to reveal so much about their lives - and love of a good chocolate nemesis. Table 4 at the River Cafe: Conversations about Food and Life is out now in the US, and available in the UK from 14th May. Find it in all good bookshops, or order online: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 16, 2026 • 4min
Bonus: The Chocolate Nemesis
In this bonus episode of Ruthie's Table 4, food writer and dessert connoisseur Aleksandra Crapanzano is joined by executive chef Sian Wynn Owen, to discuss The River Cafe's iconic Chocolate Nemesis. Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 10, 2026 • 31min
Aleksandra Crapanzano
Aleksandra Crapanzano is a close friend who has written four fantastic books - The London Cookbook, Eat. Cook. L.A., Gâteau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes, and most recently Chocolat: Parisian Desserts and Other Delights. She’s won the James Beard Foundation M.F.K. Fisher Award for Distinguished Writing and a Gourmand World Cookbook Award. We share so much including a passion for good food, our love for cooking for our families and our love for Paris and for each other. Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 6, 2026 • 8min
Peter Sarsgaard On Bees And A Bear
In this bonus episode of Ruthie's Table 4, actor Peter Sarsgaard explains the joys of beekeeping, as well as the challenges of protecting his hives from hungry bears.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 3, 2026 • 37min
Peter Sarsgaard
I know Peter Sarsgaard as an incredible actor from films and series such as 'Dopesick', 'Shattered Glass', 'The Batman', and most recently, 'The Bride' - a film made by his wife, Maggie Gyllenhaal. I also know him as a friend. Today, he's here at the River Cafe, to talk about childhood memories of eating crawdads in Mississippi, hearing his daughter play Tchaikovsky, growing corn outside his garage, and the importance of performance. Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 24, 2026 • 36min
Mayor Daniel Lurie
Mayor Daniel Lurie understands what makes a great city. This episode was recorded in his office in the City Hall of San Francisco. We're here to talk about the role of food, memories of his grandmother's meatballs, the diversity of San Francisco's restaurants, and why he thinks he has the best job in politics. Watch this episode, and the rest of the series, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthiesTable4Pod Preorder Table 4 at The River Cafe—the star-studded, food-filled book inspired by the beloved podcast: https://bit.ly/Table4AtRiverCafeBookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 17, 2026 • 28min
Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
For over 20 years as the head of Qatar Museums, Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has transformed the nation's artistic landscape through landmark institutions such as The Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar. Her work has profoundly influenced the culture and global identity of the Middle East. Today, she’s here at The River Cafe to talk about her own vision of museums, her childhood memories of cooking in the desert, the cuisine of her region , and how she views food and art, food and culture, food and family. Watch this episode, and the rest of the series, on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuthiesTable4PodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
